Abbey's first day of school

Abbey started the day after Ryan and was glad to have her own day of pictures. She loved her first day of school and felt like such a big girl when she had school lunch with Ryan. (A priviledge she did not get in kindergarten). Her only concern was she didn't do alot of worksheets and didn't have anything to bring home and show me! She loves her teacher who is from Texas and has a heavy southern drawl. It should be a fun year!
When Ryan and Abbey were getting in the car to go to school, there was no doubt in Allie's mind she was headed there too. She has on Abbey's flip flops and High School Musical backpack. When we carried her back into the house she laid her head on the couch and cried. It's hard to be a little sister!

Ryan's first day of school

Ryan started 2nd grade and was so excited. Here he is with his teacher who "totally rocks and is so cool!" Of course when he came home the first day I asked him what his favorite part of the day and it was recess. The same answer for the last three years of school. He so much enjoys running and playing with his friends.

Allie turns two

Thank you to everyone for coming and spoiling Allie with gifts.

Just waiting on you guys so I can eat my cake! (Thanks to Camille for lending the number two candle I forgot to buy!)

Sorry this is turned sideways...it was still cute!

End of summer bash at Ho Ho's

My mom was kind enough to throw an end of summer bash at her house for the grandkids. It was complete with pizza, swimming, cupcakes and a pinata!




Just chillin'!

Timpanogos Cave

This is what happens to people who love the outdoors!

I had this thought that since Jeff and I are not outdoorsman that we could expose our kids to some nature by hiking Timanogos Cave. I researched the website and it said it was only 1.5 miles. Well, that's 1.5 miles up and another 1.5 miles down. Now, that doesn't seem like much but we couldn't bring the stroller for Allie and Jeff carried her the entire way up and through the caves. Then coming down Michael and Jeff took her half way on their shoulders and I carried her the other half. It was a good little workout !

When I asked the kids how they enjoyed it they were so so on their answer. However, everytime we talk about it they say how awesome it was and how much fun they had with Uncle Michael and Aunt Adrianne.

Abbey and Uncle Michael.

Synchronized swimming at it's best

Our good friends and neighbors the Jones family moved away this summer. They were renting an apartment until their house was built and invited us to come and swim in their pool. This is a little footage of the fun they can create!

Hill Airforce Base Museum

We spent the day at the Hill Airforce Base Museum with Andrew, Bev, Christian, Jess, Luke and Jack. We had such a fun time looking at all of the airplanes. Okay, well I had a fun time after the first five the kids were not so impressed! They all looked the same to them.

Murray Pool

My brave little boy decided he no longer needed a life jacket on the diving board. Way to go Ry!

Celine Dion...huh.

Those of you who know my musical taste probably wouldn't put Celine Dion at the top of the list. However, since school is starting in one week for Ryan and Abbey I thought I would post these two songs and here is why.

When Ryan was born, I remember driving up to the hospital and hearing A New Day by Celine Dion and couldn't believe she was singing my story. The words were exactly how I felt about my sweet little boy...tubes, wires, needles and all. A new day had come and I felt as though my world was complete. All of the heartache that was there before was washed away and I truly found strength in the eyes of a boy!

When Abbey was only a few months old she would wake up every morning like clock work at 4:00 am. Without fail when I would flip on the T.V. and feed her, the video I'm Alive by Celine Dion would come on everytime. When I listened to the words this is exactly what Abbey did for me. She woke me up and got me in touch with my inner girl. Pink became one of my favorite colors, not just in her clothing but mine. I was suddenly aware at how awesome it was to be a girl. We have so many more choices than boys. Not just in material stuff (althought that is fun) but the choices and paths we can take in life. It was pretty cool and probably one of my best "ah ha" moments. Thanks Abs!

I can't believe in such a few years they are heading off to school and no longer little babies. I can't wait to see what the future holds for the sweethearts.

Photographer in training?

I keep finding these "self portraits" on my camera. The day after I asked her who took her picture she decided to get Allie in on the action!

Really...it's been 15 years?

Jeff and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary on Thursday! Jeff surprised me with not only a babysitter but an afternoon of pampering. We went and had a massage and a pedicure and had a delicious dinner at Market Street Broiler. YUM! What a guy...here's to the next fifteen!

Lagoon...that's what fun is!

Laguna Beach is always the most exciting part of Lagoon. We spent many hours of fun in the water!

Abbey was the only one brave enough to go on the wild mouse! What an adventurer!

Allie had a hard time accepting she was not able to ride the big rides. She keep saying go Mama, Allie go too! Luckily, Ryan rode every "kiddie ride" with her. What a good brother!

Look what I made!

It's hard to tell from this picture the secret weapon Ryan has created. He took a gun (that he bought from another kid at his yard sell) put it in a scabbard from an old sword and then used his "number one blankie" to secure it to his shoulder. What a boy!